Sandra Lee Birlauf grew up in Lincoln, but had many fond memories of time spent among the Gibsons and Larsens of Friend.
Sandie had a great love for family, which encouraged her search for information regarding her history. Volunteer work was a prevalent focus in her life for many years. She enjoyed working with Mercy Ministries and Jeffco Action Center helping young mothers and the homeless. Along with her love of gardening, she – with her husband, Brian – spent many hours volunteering at the Methodist Church located in Wheat Ridge in their yard.
Sandie and Brian spent lots of time on trips to visit family all around the country. One of her favorite places to go was the Oregon coast. She found it very peaceful and wanted to live there.
Another thing she treasured were animals. She enjoyed all the wildlife found in her yard, including squirrels, birds, foxes and even a skunk or two. Some were trusting enough to come up to her. But her most adored animals were her kitties. A pair of feral cats lived in the area and she made it a point to make sure they had a safe place to go when they needed it. Brian fixed up an area in their garage to provide food, water and comfort.
Sandie married Bill Power in 1961 which produced a son named David. As with many who married too young, it didn’t last.
In 1965, she married a man named Larry Wichman. From this union, a daughter named Laura was born. This, too, was unable to last.
